¾«¶«´«Ã½app

Skip to main content

Bachelor of Spatial Science Technology (BSST) - BSpScTech

QTAC code (Australian and New Zealand applicants): Unspecified (Toowoomba campus: 907802; External: 907805); Surveying (Springfield campus: 927801)

CRICOS code (International applicants): 053512D

 On-campus^External
Semester intake:Semester 1 (February)
Semester 2 (July)
Semester 1 (February)
Semester 2 (July)
Campus:Springfield, Toowoomba -
Fees:Commonwealth supported place
Domestic full fee paying place
International full fee paying place
Commonwealth supported place
Domestic full fee paying place
International full fee paying place
Standard duration:3 years full-time, 6 years part-time 
Program articulation:

From: Associate Degree of Spatial Science

To: Bachelor of Spatial Science (Honours); Master of Spatial Science Technology

Footnotes
^Only the Surveying major is available on-campus at Springfield.

Back to top

Contact us

Future Australian and New Zealand students  Future International students  Current students 

Freecall (within Australia): 1800 269 500
Phone (from outside Australia): +61 7 4631 5315
Email: studyeng@usq.edu.au  

Phone: +61 7 4631 5543
Email: international@usq.edu.au 

Freecall (within Australia): 1800 007 252
Phone (from outside Australia): +61 7 4631 2285
Email usq.support@usq.edu.au 

Back to top

Professional accreditation

The Bachelor of Spatial Science Technology (Surveying) program is accredited by the Surveyors Board of Queensland and is recognised in every Australian state and in New Zealand through reciprocal arrangements. The degree, together with relevant industry experience, enables registration as a graduate surveyor with the Queensland Surveyors Board. The degree, together with relevant industry experience, enables registration and/or licensing as a professional mining surveyor with the Surveyors Boards of Queensland and New South Wales.

The Spatial Science Institute has accredited both program majors and graduates are eligible for membership with the .

Back to top

Program aims

The Bachelor of Spatial Science Technology program equips students with a core of basic technical, scientific, analytical, business administration and communication skills that will permit them to undertake further study of the science and practice of spatial science in one of two fields: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) or Surveying.

In addition, students obtain knowledge of the natural, legal, commercial, industrial and social environments in which they will function as professionals. The program instils in students the need for continuing professional development and gives them the ability to adapt to change.

Back to top

Program objectives

A student who successfully completes the Bachelor of Spatial Science Technology should be able to demonstrate:

  • a broad knowledge of basic scientific and technical skills

  • a level of computer literacy skills appropriate to their field of study

  • appropriate written and oral communication skills

  • the capacity to analyse technical problems and propose solutions

  • an understanding of, and the ability to undertake, the processes required to collect, store, and manipulate a variety of spatial data

  • a capacity to adapt to change and to master new technologies as they emerge

  • an understanding of the natural, social, professional, industrial and technical environments in which they will practice

  • the skills required to access information and an aptitude to undertake further learning and study

  • a knowledge of surveying or spatial information systems of sufficient depth to gain employment, certification and, where appropriate, registration as a Graduate Surveyor or GIS Spatial Scientist.


Back to top

Australian Qualifications Framework

The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is a single national, comprehensive system of qualifications offered by higher education institutions (including universities), vocational education and training institutions and secondary schools. Each AQF qualification has a set of descriptors which define the type and complexity of knowledge, skills and application of knowledge and skills that a graduate who has been awarded that qualification has attained, and the typical volume of learning associated with that qualification type.

This program is at AQF Qualification Level 07. Graduates at this level will have broad and coherent knowledge and skills for professional work and/or further learning.

The full set of levels criteria and qualification type descriptors can be found by visiting .

Back to top

Admission requirements

Applicants shall normally:

  • have studied four semester units and achieved an exit assessment of 'Sound Achievement' or better in the Queensland Senior Secondary School subjects: English and Mathematics B.


or

  • be able to demonstrate that they have achieved an equivalent standard in these subjects at another institution


and

  • Australian applicants: have achieved a Queensland Overall Position (OP) band, or an equivalent Rank based on qualifications and previous work experience, at or above the specified cut-off level


All students are required to satisfy the applicable .

If you do not meet the English language requirements you may apply to study a ¾«¶«´«Ã½app-approved . On successful completion of the English language program, you may be admitted to an award program.

Back to top

Program fees

Commonwealth supported place

A Commonwealth supported place is where the Australian Government makes a contribution towards the cost of your higher education and you as a student pay a , which varies depending on the courses undertaken. You are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the .
Commonwealth Supported students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called .

Domestic full fee paying place

Domestic full fee paying places are funded entirely through the full fees paid by the student. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken. You are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the
Domestic full fee paying students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called provided they meet the residency and citizenship requirements.
Australian citizens, Permanent Humanitarian Visa holders, Permanent Resident visa holders and New Zealand citizens who will be resident outside Australia for the duration of their program pay full tuition fees and are not eligible for .

International full fee paying place

International students pay full fees. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken and whether they are studied on-campus, via distance education/online. You are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the .

Back to top

Program structure

The Bachelor of Spatial Science Technology is a 24 unit program consisting of Academic Courses and Practice Courses.

Academic courses are one-unit courses and involve approximately 155 hours of student work per unit.

Practice courses are zero unit courses and each involves approximately 50 hours of student work.

Back to top

Required time limits

Full-time students have a maximum of five years to complete this program. Part-time students have a maximum of eight years to complete this program.

A pro-rata adjustment of the maximum time period will apply for those students who transfer from one mode of study to another. A pro-rata reduction in the maximum time period will apply to students who are admitted to a program with advanced standing.

Back to top

Electives/Approved courses

Elective courses are part of the Academic program and students should select Elective courses from the list of Elective choices provided. Students may undertake one appropriate level five or level eight course in the program or course from the Engineering, Spatial Science or Construction areas, with the approval of the Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences.

Back to top

Practical experience

Work experience is desirable and encouraged but is not required for the completion of the Bachelor of Spatial Science Technology program. Students are encouraged to obtain work experience during vacation periods.

Back to top

IT requirements

Access to an up-to-date computer is necessary. On-campus students can access appropriately equipped laboratories, but should consider acquisition of their own computer. External students should be able to access a computer with the following as advised by the ¾«¶«´«Ã½app. All students should have access to email and the Internet via a computer running the latest versions of Internet web browsers such as Internet Explorer or Firefox. The ¾«¶«´«Ã½app has a wireless network for on-campus students' computers. In order to take advantage of this facility and further enhance their on-campus learning environment, students should consider purchasing a notebook/laptop computer with wireless connectivity. Specialist software is required for some courses.

Back to top

Residential schools

Students are required to undertake practical and professional activities relevant to their program through enrolment in a series of Practice courses in the program. Practice courses are zero unit courses that may be undertaken in either on-campus or external mode and the final grades available are Pass (P)/Fail (F) only. They are a compulsory part of the program and do not attract a student contribution charge for Australian residents or a tuition fee for international students. The recommended enrolment schedule for Practice courses is shown in the Recommended Enrolment Pattern for the program in this Handbook.

External students must attend a number of residential schools during their program to obtain experience in practical and professional activities appropriate to the program. The residential schools are included in Practice courses which are conducted in Semester 3 or during the recess periods. The dates for each residential school Practice course are shown in the in this Handbook and external students should ensure they are able to attend the residential school prior to enrolling in a Practice course. Personal protective equipment is compulsory in many engineering, construction and spatial science laboratories, students should confirm the requirements before attending residential schools for Practice courses.

Students who enrol in on-campus mode for Practice courses normally undertake a series of weekly activities and/or attend a compulsory residential school.

Back to top

Articulation

Students can articulate into the Bachelor of Spatial Science (Honours) program.

Back to top

Exit points

Students who, for whatever reason, are unable to complete the Bachelor of Spatial Science Technology and who satisfy all of the requirements of either the Associate Degree of Spatial Science or may be permitted to exit with that award.

Back to top

Credit

Exemptions/credit will be assessed based on the .

Recommended enrolment patterns

In this section:

Back to top

Geographic Information Systems Major recommended enrolment pattern

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.

To satisfy the requirements of the program students must complete all of the Academic and Practice Courses in the following table that shows the recommended enrolment patterns for on-campus and external students. Students following a non-standard enrolment pattern should consult the to ascertain if a course is offered in another term.


Major ¾«¶«´«Ã½app: Geographic Information Systems (Major ¾«¶«´«Ã½app Code: 15405)
CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Residential schoolEnrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Academic Courses

1111,2
1111,3
1121
1121,2
1212
1211,2
1222
1221, 2
2131
2131
2141Pre-requisite: and or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GDST or MSST or GCST or MENS
2141,2,3
2232,3Pre-requisite:
2232
2242
2242
3151
3151
Elective (Select from the Electives list)3161
3161,3
Elective (Select from the Electives list)3252
3252
3262Pre-requisite: or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCGS or GDST or MSST or GCNS or GCST or GDNS or MENS
Elective (Select from the Electives list)3262

Practice Courses

     1121C
     #2143CPre-requisite: and and ( or or ) or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GDNS or MENS
     >2251,3CPre-requisite: and and or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCNS or GDNS or MENS

Electives (Select from the following)

     11Pre-requisite:
     11Pre-requisite: MAT1500 or ENG1500 or or or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCST or GDST or GCEN
     11Pre-requisite: or MAT1500 or or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCEN or METC or MENS or GCNS or GDNS or MSST or MEPR
     â€ 1,31,3
     11,2,3
     11,2,3
     11
     1,21,2,3
     22
     22Co-requisite: or or (Students enrolled in Programs: BEDU (Legal Studies) or BLAW or LLBP or BALW or BBLA or BCLA & Co-requisite: LAW1201 or ) or (Students enrolled in Program: DJUR & Co-requisite: LAW5501 or )
     2
     22Pre-requisite: or or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCST or GDST or MSPT
     URP4002 Urban and Regional Planning Theory*11
     11
     22

Footnotes
#Students who have completed GIS2901 Geographic Information Systems Practice 1 do not need to undertake .
>Students who have completed GIS3901 Geographic Information Systems Practice 2 do not need to undertake .
†The semester 3 offering of this course is offered in odd numbered years only.
*This course will be introduced in 2017

Back to top

Surveying Major recommended enrolment pattern (Toowoomba and Springfield campus)

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.

To satisfy the requirements of the program students must complete all of the Academic and Practice Courses in the following table that shows the recommended enrolment patterns for on-campus and external students. Students following a non-standard enrolment pattern should consult the to ascertain if a course is offered in another term.



Major ¾«¶«´«Ã½app: Surveying (Major ¾«¶«´«Ã½app Code: 15406)
CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Residential schoolEnrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Academic Courses

1111,2
1111,3
1121
1121,2
1211,2
1212
1222
1222Pre-requisite: or or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCST or GDST or MSPT
2131Pre-requisite: or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCST or GDST
2131Pre-requisite: and or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCNS or GCST or GDNS or GDST or MSST or MENS
2141Pre-requisite: MAT1500 or ENG1500 or or or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCST or GDST or GCEN
2141Pre-requisite: or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCNS or GCST or GDNS or GDST
2232,3Pre-requisite:
2232Pre-requisite:
2241,2,3
2242Pre-requisite: ( and ) or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCNS or GCST or GDNS or GDST or MSST or MENS
3151
Elective (Select from the Electives list)3151
3161
Elective (Select from the Electives list)3161
3252
3252Pre-requisite: and or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCNS or GCST or GDNS or GDST or MSST or MENS
3252
3262Pre-requisite: or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCNS or GCST or GDNS or GDST or MSST or MENS

Practice Courses

     1121C
     2133CPre-requisite: and and ( or or ) or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GDNS or MENS
     2241,3CPre-requisite: and and or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCNS or GDNS or MENS
     ^3262CPre-requisite: or or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCNS or GDNS or MENS

Electives (Select from the following)

     11
     1,21,2,3
     11
     11Pre-requisite: or Students must be enrolled in the following Program: GCEN
     11Pre-requisite: or MAT1500 or or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCEN or METC or MENS or GCNS or GDNS or MSST or MEPR
     11Pre-requisite: and or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GDST or MSST or GCST or MENS
     URP4002 Urban and Regional Planning Theory*11
     21,2
     22
     22
     22
     22Pre-requisite: or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCGS or GDST or MSST or GCNS or GCST or GDNS or MENS
     11
     11
     22

Footnotes
^On-campus students should enrol in the external offering of this course.
*This course will be introduced in 2017